Heartbroken sister of Balbriggan man killed in hit-and-run pays tribute

Sunday World

6 hours ago

Mircea Rostas died on Monday after being struck by a vehicle while standing on a path in the town.
The heartbroken sister of a Balbriggan man who was killed in a hit-and-run on Monday has paid tribute to him.
Mircea Rostas, aged in his 30s, died after he was struck by a BMW while standing on a path on Railway Street, Balbriggan.
His sister has shared her devastation at his sudden death.
'Brother, you have left us all in sorrow,' her tribute began.
'Why? You were such a wise man and always sought peace, a man who helped everyone when they needed help, a man who spread the word of God, the same God who let you die at the hands of your enemies.
'Please, come home so I can see you one more time, come home so I can hug you one more time, so I can sit at your feet and listen to you speak wise words about my life,' she pleaded.
'Please, Saban, look down from heaven on your wife, your children, your family and me.'
Mircea Rostas
News in 90 Seconds - June 25th
Detectives suspect that Mr Rostas, who was also known as Saban to his loved ones, was intentionally driven at.
The alleged driver of the car remains in garda custody as part of the investigation.
In other online tributes, one mourner shared: 'My brother, I have no words, I can't find the words. You were a true brother, a man of God, I will not forget you all my life. May God rest you and have you in peace'.
Another added: 'I can't believe that you left so early and innocent, such a good soul and a great character, my brother. May God rest your soul'.
Gardaí have also appealed for people not to share a graphic video showing the immediate aftermath of the collision.
It shows Mr Rostas lying motionless on the grounds while on bystander attempts CPR, and his family reacting in agony after arriving on the scene.
He was treated at the scene, but died a short time later. The driver of the BMW involved fled.
A man in his 40s, who was known to the victim, has been arrested and is being held at a garda station in north Dublin.
Officers are investigating whether the hit-and-run is linked to a dispute in the area that has involved a number of other incidents in recent weeks.
'Early indications are that this man was standing on a footpath when the car drove at him and hit him, indicating that he was targeted deliberately,' a source said.
'Tempers were high in the area in the immediate aftermath, with a number of incidents reported, but these were quickly brought under control.'
Gardaí are also seeking a motive, with one line of inquiry being that the man arrested and associates of Mr Rostas were involved in a personal dispute over a woman.
Emergency services were alerted to reports of a road traffic collision and found Mr Rostas seriously injured on the ground.
Gardaí also responded to two other public order incidents in the area a short time later, which sources said were 'reactionary'.
Members of the Garda Public Order Unit were sent to the area and no serious injuries were reported.
In one of the incidents, a vehicle was rammed on the road outside Balbriggan garda station.
Forensic specialists carried out examinations of the vehicle yesterday morning.
Gardaí also sealed off Railway Street in the town pending a forensic examination.
A tent could be seen at one end of the street nearest the railway station, covering where the incident happened and where the man's body still lay until an examination by a pathologist.
Mr Rostas's remains were later removed to the local mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Gardaí said they are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or has information to come forward.
They are particularly interested in the movements of a black saloon car that was seen in the area at the time.
It was abandoned following a collision with a second saloon car on Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, shortly after the fatal incident.
Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the Railway Street and Drogheda Street areas of Balbriggan between 8.30pm and 9.30pm are asked to make it available to gardaí.